Photo: DirkBlankenhaus (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
A pop of red against green plants and a tireless little cleaner — the beginner invertebrate that breeds into a self-sustaining colony.
Will it live with a Cherry Shrimp?
We compare each fish against your cherry shrimp on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Assassin Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blackwing Hatchetfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blackwing Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Killifish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Clown Killifish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dawn Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dawn Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Spotted Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dwarf Spotted Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Endler's Livebearer✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Endler's Livebearer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Eyespot Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glowlight Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Gold Ring Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 18–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Gold Ring Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Lambchop Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Lambchop Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Neon Blue Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Neon Blue Rasbora in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Neon Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Nerite Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Northern Glowlight Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Otocinclus✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pea Puffer✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pygmy Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.2 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Pygmy Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rainbow Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tail-spot Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tail-spot Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tailspotted Oto✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tailspotted Oto in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Hard care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tiger Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Trinidad Guppy✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- African Dwarf Frog⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- African Dwarf Frog may eat Cherry Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Amapá Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Adult Cherry Shrimp might survive with Amapá Tetra, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Amapá Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Darter Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Hard care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Water hardness preferences differ (Cherry Shrimp 6–15 vs Black Darter Tetra 0–5 dGH).
- Adult Cherry Shrimp might survive with Black Darter Tetra, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Danio⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
- Blue Danio may eat Cherry Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blue Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Emperor Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Blue Emperor Tetra may eat Cherry Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blue Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cardinal Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Adult Cherry Shrimp might survive with Cardinal Tetra, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Cardinal Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Crimson Red Betta⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- One likes softer water and the other harder (6–15 vs 0–5 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Crystal Red Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- One likes softer water and the other harder (6–15 vs 2–5 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Crystal Red Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Emperor Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Adult Cherry Shrimp might survive with Emperor Tetra, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Red Licorice Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- One likes softer water and the other harder (6–15 vs 0–4 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Flame Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Flame Tetra may eat Cherry Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ghost Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Adult Cherry Shrimp might survive with Ghost Shrimp, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Glowlight Tetra may eat Cherry Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glowlight Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Golden Dwarf Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Golden Dwarf Barb may eat Cherry Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Golden Dwarf Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Green Neon Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Water hardness preferences differ (Cherry Shrimp 6–15 vs Green Neon Tetra 0–4 dGH).
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Jelly Bean Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Jelly Bean Tetra may eat Cherry Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Alligator Gar will hunt and eat Cherry Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Clown Knifefish will hunt and eat Cherry Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Fire Eel will hunt and eat Cherry Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Nile Bichir⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 70 cm · Medium care · 25–28 °C (77–82 °F)
- Nile Bichir will hunt and eat Cherry Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~450 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Redtail Catfish will hunt and eat Cherry Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Spotted Gar will hunt and eat Cherry Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Wels Catfish will hunt and eat Cherry Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Wolf Cichlid will hunt and eat Cherry Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Cherry Shrimp care specs
- Care level
- Easy
- Breeding
- Easy
- Max size
- 3 cm (1.2 in)
- Min tank size
- 19 L (5 gal)
- Temperature
- 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- pH
- 6.5–8
- Hardness
- 6–15 dGH
- Lifespan
- 1–2 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Group size
- 10+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Atyidae
- Origin
- Taiwan (Neocaridina davidi); the wild form is brown
What is a Cherry Shrimp?
The cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) is the gateway invertebrate for planted-tank keepers — small enough to live comfortably in a 19 L (5 gal) nano tank, cheap enough to stock in groups, and bright enough to catch the eye against any backdrop of green plants. The wild form from Taiwan is a muted brownish-olive; generations of selective breeding produced the vivid reds sold today, graded from the translucent cherry grade through blood-red fire cherry up to the opaque, intense painted fire red. The same species also underlies the blue velvet, yellow, green jade and chocolate colour morphs — all Neocaridina davidi, all cross-compatible.
What makes cherry shrimp genuinely useful is their behaviour: they graze algae, biofilm and decomposing plant matter constantly, picking over every surface in the tank throughout the day. They are not a replacement for a filter or for good husbandry, but they do contribute to the tank’s ecosystem and they are endlessly watchable while doing it.
Where do Cherry Shrimp come from?
Neocaridina davidi originates from Taiwan, where the wild population inhabits slow-moving streams, rice paddies and ditches among dense aquatic vegetation. Wild individuals are brown with faint blue-grey tints — the coloured forms we keep are entirely the product of selective breeding programmes, mostly originating in Taiwanese and later Eastern European shrimp farms.
The natural habitat is warm to mild, moderately hard and near-neutral — conditions that explain why cherry shrimp tolerate a remarkably wide parameter window compared with the more demanding Caridina genus (crystal red shrimp, bee shrimp). Understanding their Taiwanese lowland origin also explains why they handle a wide temperature range of 18–28 °C (64–82 °F): the climate swings seasonally and the shallows heat and cool with it.
What size tank does a Cherry Shrimp need?
The practical minimum is 19 L (5 gal), and it works well because cherry shrimp top out at 3 cm (just over 1 in). A 19–40 L (5–10 gal) planted nano tank is the classic shrimp setup: small enough to maintain water chemistry easily, large enough to sustain a colony of 10–30 individuals.
Larger tanks are not a problem — shrimp thrive in planted community tanks of 75 L (20 gal) or more — but very large, sparse tanks can make locating the shrimp difficult and predation pressure from fish harder to manage. For a dedicated shrimp colony, nano planted tanks are ideal.
A few setup priorities:
- Dense planting. Java moss, hornwort, bucephalandra and other fine-leaved plants give shrimplets hiding spots and enormous grazing surface. Without cover, juveniles are vulnerable even to peaceful tankmates.
- Sponge or pre-filtered intake. Baby shrimp are tiny and will be sucked into a bare filter intake. A sponge pre-filter is non-negotiable.
- A mature tank. Wait until the tank has cycled and biofilm is visible before adding shrimp. A tank with no biofilm offers them nothing to eat.
- No copper. Copper is acutely toxic to invertebrates. Many fertilisers and medications contain it; check labels before dosing.
What water parameters do Cherry Shrimp need?
Cherry shrimp are among the most tolerant freshwater invertebrates, but stability always matters more than chasing perfect numbers.
- Temperature: 18–28 °C (64–82 °F). They breed most actively and colour up best around 22–24 °C (72–75 °F). The high end (28 °C / 82 °F) speeds metabolism and shortens lifespan; the lower end slows breeding but can extend individual longevity.
- pH: 6.5–8.0. A neutral range of 7.0–7.5 suits most colour grades.
- Hardness: 6–15 dGH. Moderately hard water provides the minerals shrimp need to build and re-harden their shell after molting. Very soft water (below 4 dGH) leads to failed molts.
- Ammonia / nitrite: zero. Like all invertebrates, shrimp are far more sensitive to ammonia and nitrite than fish are. Never add shrimp to an uncycled tank.
- Nitrate: keep below 20 ppm with regular partial water changes.
Avoid sudden parameter shifts — drip-acclimate new shrimp over at least 30–60 minutes. Rapid osmotic changes trigger stress molts and can kill.
What do Cherry Shrimp eat?
Cherry shrimp are omnivores that in practice spend most of their time grazing algae, biofilm and decaying organic matter. In a mature planted tank a healthy colony will find a lot of this naturally, but supplemental feeding keeps condition and colour up.
Good staple foods include:
- Sinking shrimp-specific pellets or wafers — spirulina-based or blanched-vegetable formulas.
- Blanched vegetables — courgette (zucchini), spinach, kale; remove after 24 hours to avoid fouling water.
- Dried leaves — Indian almond (catappa) leaves and dried oak leaves decompose slowly, growing biofilm as they go; shrimp graze them for days.
- Occasional protein — a small piece of blanched mussel or a sinking carnivore pellet once a week boosts condition, especially for breeding females.
Feed small amounts two to three times a week. Overfeeding raises nitrates and can fuel snail explosions. If food disappears within an hour or two, the colony has room for a little more; if it sits overnight, cut back.
Are Cherry Shrimp aggressive — and what tank mates can live with them?
Cherry shrimp are entirely peaceful — they pose no threat whatsoever to any tankmate. The compatibility concern runs the other direction: which fish can live safely with cherry shrimp?
Almost any fish with a mouth large enough to fit a shrimp will eat them eventually, including many “peaceful” community fish. The safest tankmates are:
- Nano fish that are too small to threaten adults: ember tetras, chili rasboras, exclamation point rasboras, pygmy corydoras, endlers.
- Bottom-dwellers that ignore shrimp: otocinclus catfish (an excellent companion — they share the algae-grazing niche without competing).
- Snails: nerite snails, mystery snails and ramshorn snails coexist peacefully and share the cleanup crew role.
Fish to avoid: bettas (individual variation — some leave shrimp alone, many eat them), guppies and platies (they will eat shrimplets), larger tetras, cichlids, and any species rated 5 cm (2 in) or larger that hunts near the bottom.
In a heavily planted tank, a colony can outbreed predation losses from small fish. In a sparse tank with anything larger, expect to lose shrimp. For a full breakdown of compatible and incompatible species, see Cherry Shrimp tank mates.
How do Cherry Shrimp molt — and what does it mean?
Shrimp do not have the fixed internal skeleton of fish; instead they grow by periodically shedding their rigid exoskeleton (molting) and expanding their soft body before the new shell hardens. For cherry shrimp this happens roughly every 3–5 weeks in adults, more often in juveniles growing quickly.
You will find empty, translucent husks — exuviae — on the substrate or tucked in plants after a molt. Leave them: the shrimp often eat them to reclaim minerals. A shrimp is at its most vulnerable for a few hours after molting, before the new shell hardens, which is when tankmates may pick on it.
Failed molts (a shrimp stuck half out of its shell) are the main health risk here and are almost always a sign of insufficient minerals in the water — low hardness, low calcium, or inadequate nutrition. Ensure hardness stays above 6 dGH and that the diet includes mineral-rich foods. Some keepers add a small piece of cuttlebone to the tank as a calcium supplement.
How do Cherry Shrimp breed?
Cherry shrimp breed easily and reliably in a mature, stable tank — often described as breeding “without trying.” The colony builds itself if the conditions are right.
After molting, a female releases pheromones that trigger frantic swimming behaviour in males — they dart around the tank in all directions searching for her. Fertilisation occurs quickly. The female then carries fertilised eggs under her tail (she is now “berried” — the eggs look like a cluster of tiny berries) for 3–4 weeks at typical temperatures before the eggs hatch as fully formed miniature shrimp, not larvae.
A single berried female carrying 20–30 eggs can seed a colony within a few months. The shrimplets are 1–2 mm at birth and spend their first weeks hiding in moss and fine-leaved plants. Dense planting and a sponge-filtered intake are essential for juvenile survival in a community tank; in a species-only tank losses are minimal.
Breeding slows above 26 °C (79 °F) and below 18 °C (64 °F), and stops entirely if water quality degrades. A regular colony steady at room temperature or slightly above will produce new broods continuously.
What are common Cherry Shrimp diseases?
Cherry shrimp kept in good water are robustly healthy, but several problems do appear:
- Failed molts. The most common issue; caused by low mineral content or nutritional deficiency (see the Molting section above). Prevention: maintain hardness above 6 dGH and feed a varied diet.
- Vorticella and other protozoan infections. A fuzzy white or grey growth on the body or limbs, often mistaken for fungus. Triggered by poor water quality. Prevention: consistent water changes and avoiding organic buildup.
- Bacterial infections. Milky-white opacity in the body of a shrimp indicates a bacterial infection and is usually fatal by the time it is visible. Prevention: do not overstock, keep ammonia and nitrate low, quarantine new additions.
- Parasites (Scutariella, Ellobiopsidae “green fungus”). Visible as white filaments near the head or rostrum, or a bright green growth on the body. Introduced via new shrimp or plants that have not been properly quarantined. Prevention: quarantine all new shrimp for 2–4 weeks; dip new plants.
Health note: diagnosis of shrimp disease is genuinely difficult — many conditions look similar and invertebrate medications are not well-standardised. Confirm what you are seeing against a reputable shrimp-keeping or veterinary source before introducing any treatment. Many treatments safe for fish are lethal to shrimp; always check.
How long do Cherry Shrimp live?
Cherry shrimp have a relatively short lifespan of 1–2 years — a trade-off for their fast breeding cycle. A colony is effectively immortal as long as conditions are maintained, even if individual shrimp turn over continuously.
Longevity within that 1–2 year range is influenced most by temperature (cooler water = longer life, slower breeding) and water quality. Shrimp kept at the top of their temperature range (26–28 °C / 79–82 °F) may live just over a year but breed at maximum pace; shrimp at 20–22 °C (68–72 °F) live closer to two years. The goal with cherry shrimp is not to maximise the life of individuals but to maintain a thriving, self-reproducing colony — get the tank parameters right, keep up with water changes, feed consistently, and the colony will look after itself.
Frequently asked questions
Can cherry shrimp live with fish?
With small, peaceful fish, yes — but almost any fish will eat baby shrimp, and some eat adults. In a heavily planted tank a colony can outbreed the losses. With bigger or hungrier fish, keep shrimp in a species-only tank.
Do cherry shrimp clean the tank?
They graze algae, biofilm and leftover food, which helps — but they're livestock, not a filter. Don't add them to a brand-new tank with no biofilm for them to graze.
What you need to keep a cherry shrimp
The baseline is a heated, filtered 19 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 18–28 °C (64–82 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a cherry shrimp in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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